Ceramicm port liners

ABSTRACT

Ceramic materials to be insert-cast are disclosed, which each contain not less than 65% by volume of aluminum titanate as a crystalline phase, and have an average particle diameter of crystals thereof being not less than 10 μm, Young&#39;s modulus of 50 to 2,000 kgf/mm 2 , compression strength of 5 to 40 kgf/mm 2 , and porosity of 5 to 35%. Ceramic port liners are also disclosed, which are free from cracking due to compression force during insert-casting, peeling-off during use, and facilitate insert-casting. To attain this, a reinforcement which meets either one or both of requirements that differences in coefficient of thermal expansion at 800° C. and Young&#39;s modulus between the reinforcement and a material constituting the port liner body are in a range of ±0.1% and in a range of ±1,000 kgf/mm 2 , respectively, is filled into a depressed portion at an outer peripheral surface of the port liner body to form an integrated structure with a flat or swelled surface. Alternatively, the outer peripheral surface of the port liner body is worked to give uneven portions at a joining surface of the port liner body to a metal to insert-cast the port liner. Another alternative is to utilize a stress-releasing slit formed in a wall of the port liner body. Further, the outer peripheral surface of the ceramic port liner body may be covered with a ceramic sheet which is irreversively expandable by heating.

This application is a Rule 60 Divisional application of Ser. No.07/508,532, filed Apr. 12, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,435, which inturn is a Rule 62 Continuation application of Ser. No. 07/169,507, filedMar. 17, 1988, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to ceramic materials to be used whenhollow tubular ceramic members are to be insert-cast with a molten metalsuch as aluminum or cast iron. Particularly, the invention relates toceramic materials to be used for insert-casting when inner surfaces ofexhaust ports in gasoline engines, diesel engines or the like are to belined. Further, the invention relates to ceramic port liners used toline inner surfaces of exhaust ports in gasoline engines, diesel enginesor the like.

(2) Related Art Statement:

Environmental pollution with exhaust gases from automobiles has become aserious social problem, and poisonous substances contained therein havemainly been removed by catalysts. From the standpoint of resources andcosts, consumption amounts of noble metals such as Pt or Rh used asthese catalysts have been demanded to be reduced. In addition, recentlyincreasing 4 valve type engines have a problem in that purifyingperformance of catalysts is deteriorated due to reduction intemperatures exhaust gases. As one of technique for solving theseproblems, it has conventionally been proposed that temperatures ofexhaust gases are raised by a thermally insulating action of ceramicport liners which are lined to inner surfaces of engine exhaust ports.In general, in order to fit ceramic port liners to engine exhaust ports,the ceramic port liners are insert-cast with a metal such as aluminumsimultaneously when engine cylinder heads are produced. However, greatcompression stresses act due to shrinkage through solidification of themolten metal. Thus, there is a problem in that when stresses locallyconcentrate upon even a high strength ceramic material, the ceramicportion is broken.

On the other hand, Japanese patent publication Nos. 46-26,330,51-16,168, 60-5,544 and 56-7,996 propose ceramic materials used forhollow tubular members to be insert-cast with a metal.

Japanese patent publication No. 46-26,330 relates to an invention inwhich a ceramic member made of high strength alumina-based or siliconcarbide based ceramic material is made porous at its surface portion towithstand shrinkage of a metal during cooling. However, such a compositematerial is in a yielded state in which fine cracks are latentlypresent. Consequently, if such a composite material is used at a portionundergoing vigorous vibration such as in an engine, it is feared thatthe cracks proceed to conspicuously deteriorate durability.

Japanese patent publication No. 51-16,168 relates to an invention forproducing heat insulating cast products having a low elastic modulus.The cast products are made of flexible ceramic semi-products consistingof a refractory filler and alumina cement, and their values of elasticmodulus are 950 kg/mm² at the minimum. Thus, they may be broken due tocompression stresses during insert-casting.

Japanese patent publication No. 60-5,544 is aimed at low thermalexpansion (thermal shock resistance) and high strength by adding kaolinand magnesium silicate to aluminum titanate. However, the minimumelastic modulus is 8×10³ kgf/mm². Thus, breakage due to compressionstress during insert casting cannot completely be prevented by thismethod.

Japanese patent publication No. 56-7,996 is to afford low thermalexpansion and high strength to aluminum titanate by adding SiO₂ and ZrO₂thereto. Growth of crystalline grains of aluminum titanate is restrainedby these additives. However, this method also has the above-mentionedshortcoming possessed by the prior art techniques.

In addition to the above-mentioned prior art methods, many attempts havebeen made to mitigate compression stresses due to a molten metal duringshrinkage in solidifying by coating the outer periphery of a ceramicmember with a layer of asbesto, ceramic fibers made of alumina or thelike to be interposed as a buffer member between the metal and theceramic member by utilizing an elastic force possessed by the layer (forinstance, Japanese patent application Laid-open Nos. 52-121,114 and59-175,693). However, since the outer periphery of the ceramic member iscoated with the ceramic fibers, a final product is more costy due to anincreased number of steps. Furthermore, this method has a seriousproblem in that if elasticity of the ceramic fiber layer is lost due tohigh temperatures and vibrations during engine operation, the port lineris peeled off from the metal member.

Further, Japanese patent application Laid-open No. 60-169,655 proposeshollow tubular ceramic members in which at least one high pressure-proofreinforcement is provided around the outer peripheral surface thereof.Since such ceramic members use tialite (aluminum titanate) and zirconiaas ceramic bodies and the reinforcement, respectively, differences inthermal expansion and Young's modulus between them are so great that theceramic members cannot withstand thermal shock and stress and are brokenwhen insert-cast with aluminum.

Moreover, many attempts have also been proposed to prevent such breakageby making port liners themselves of a high strength material. However,since an extremely great stress is concentrated upon a depressed portionsuch as a central portion of a two barrel type port liner used in a fourvalve type engine, in which the outer surface is depressed inside,cracking cannot completely be prevented there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished to obviate theabove-mentioned problems encountered by the prior art techniques, and toprovide ceramic materials to be insert-cast, which have excellent heatresistance and thermal shock resistance, and are free from cracking dueto compression stresses developed during insert-casting.

It is another object of the present invention to solve theabove-mentioned problems encountered by the prior art techniques, and toprovide ceramic port liners which are free from cracking due tocompression stresses developed during insert-casting, do not peel offduring use, and can easily be insert-cast.

Although previous research has been performed to increase strength ofceramic members by refining crystalline grains, the present inventorshave found through repeated research to accomplish the above objectsthat port liners can be prevented from cracking during insert-castingwith a metal by affording rubbery elasticity upon the port linersthrough lowering Young's modulus instead of further increasing strength.The present invention has been accomplished based on this knowledge, andis characterized in that aluminum titanate is contained as a crystallinephase in an amount of not less than 65% by volume, the average particlediameter of crystals thereof is not less than 10 μm, Young's modulus isin a range from 50 to 2,000 kgf/mm², compression strength is in a rangefrom 5 to 40 kgf/mm², and porosity is in a range from 5 to 35%.

Further, the present inventors have found that through repeated researchto solve the above-mentioned problems that breakage of the ceramicmember due to compression stresses during insert-casting is moreconspicuous when the port liner is peeled from the insert casting metaland that the stress concentration is mitigated by preventing the peelingto remarkably reduce occurrence of cracks.

The port liners according to the present invention are characterized inthat each of the port liners is designed as an integral structure with aflat or swelled surface portion by filling a reinforcement in adepressed portion of at the outer peripheral surface of a ceramic portliner body, the reinforcement meeting either one or both of requirementsthat difference in coefficient of thermal expansion at 800° C. between amaterial constituting the port liner body and the reinforcement is in arange of ±0.1% and that difference is in a range of ±0.1% and thatdifference in Young's modulus therebetween is in a range of ±1,000kgf/mm².

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is aprovision of ceramic port liners characterized in that the outerperipheral portion of a ceramic port liner body is worked to afforduneven portions upon a contacting face of the port liner body to aninsert-casting metal.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is aprovision of ceramic port liners characterized in that a ceramic portliner body possesses a depressed portion at its outer peripheral surfaceand a slit is formed in a wall of the port liner body for releasingstress.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is aprovision of ceramic port liners characterized in that the outerperipheral surface of a ceramic port liner body is covered with aceramic sheet which is irreversibly expandable by heating.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be appreciated upon reading of the following descriptionof the invention when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings,with the understanding that some modifications, variations, and changesof the same could be made by the skilled person in the art to which theinvention pertains without departing from the spirit of the invention orthe scope of claims appended hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to theattached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a port liner for use in a four valvetype engine;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the port liner insert-cast into an enginehead;

FIGS. 3a and 3b are electron microscope photographs of ceramic materialsaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a plane view showing a ceramic port liner according to thesecond aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of FIG. 4 along a line V--V;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a ceramic port liner according to thethird aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another ceramic port liner according tothe third aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a ceramic port liner according to thefourth aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another ceramic port liner according tothe fourth aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a further ceramic port liner according to the fourth aspectof the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a still further ceramic port liner according to the fourthaspect of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a ceramic port liner according to the fifth aspect of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

First, a process for producing ceramic materials according to thepresent invention will be explained as follows:

Raw ingredients are selected from the group comprising alumina, low sodaalumina, calcined bauxite, purified rutile, crude rutile, anatase typetitanium, ilmenite, ferrite, rouge, magnesia, magnesite, spinel, kaolin,quartz, and silica to prepare a raw material having a chemicalcomposition essentially consisting of, in terms of "weight", from 40 to65% of Al₂ O₃, from 30 to 60% of TiO₂, and at least one kind of SiO₂,MgO, and Fe₂ O₃ in a total amount of not more than 10%. To this rawmaterial is added 0.1 to 1.0% of a deflocculant selected from waterglass, ammonium polycarbonate, an amine, sodium pryrophosphate, and thelike. After 1.0 to 5.0% of a binder selected from PVA, MC, CMC,acrylate, and the like is added to the mixture, the resulting mixture isfully mixed and stirred together with 15 to 40% of water by means of atrommel, a ball mill or the like, thereby preparing a slurry having aviscosity of 200 to 1,000 cp. The thus obtained slurry is shaped in acylindrical or port liner form by a casting method, which is dried andfired. Consequently, an aluminum titanate sintered body which containsnot less than 65% by volume of aluminum titanate as a crystalline phaseand at least one kind of rutile, corundum, and mullite as othercrystalline phases and has excellent heat resistance, thermal shockresistance, and heat insulation can be obtained. Contrary to theconventional common knowledge, according to the present invention, thecrystals of aluminum titanate are fully grown up to the average particlediameter of not less than 10 μm by setting firing conditions to be, forinstance, in a temperature range from 1,450° to 1,650° C., preferably ina range from 1,500° to 1,600° C., for around 1 to 16 hours. Whilecoefficients of thermal expansion of the aluminum titanate crystals ina- and b-axes are positive, that of a c-axis is negative. Sincedifference in coefficient of thermal expansion between them are verygreat, grain boundaries and crystals themselves do not withstanddifferences in thermal expansion among the axes, so that a number ofmicrocracks are formed between or inside the crystal grains.

It was found that when the crystal grains of aluminum titanate are grownto the average diameter of not less than 10 μm, the frequency and sizeof occurrence of microcracks correspond to remarkable reduction inYoung's modulus. Therefore, as a result of the growth of such crystalgrains, a huge number of microcracks are formed between or inside thecrystal grains. Thus, such aluminum titanate has the property thatspaces inside microcracks approach together or separate from one anotherdue to application of external forces, so that Young's modulus of 50 to2,000 kgf/mm², compression strength of 5˜40 kgf/mm², and porosity of 5to 35% can be afforded to the thus obtained ceramic material. Ceramicmaterials as having such a low Young's modulus can shrink together withan insert-casting metal simultaneously when the metal shrinks.Particularly in the case of such a complicated shape that breaksconventional ceramics of high strength and high Young's modulus due toconcentration of stresses, the ceramic material according to the presentinvention is free from cracking. Therefore, the ceramic materialsaccording to the present invention are favorably used as, not to speakof cylindrical type port liners, a port liner 3 of a complicated shapeshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which has two ports 2 on a cylinder side of afour valve type engine and a single exhaust opening 1 on an exhaustmanifold side. Further, the ceramic material of the invention is alsofavorably used as liners in exhaust manifolds. The coefficient ofthermal expansion of the sintered body is lowered by microcrackscontained therein, so that satisfactory heat insulation is exhibitedeven when porosity is relatively small.

Since aluminum titanate has a melting point of not less than 1,700° C.,no particular limitation is posed upon an insert-casting metal. Forinstance, gray cast iron, nodular graphite cast iron, white cast iron,aluminum alloys, copper alloys, magnesium alloys, and zinc alloys may beused for insert casting.

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) show electron microscope photographs of ceramicmaterials according to the present invention. In FIG. 3(b), whitecrystals are rutile, grey crystals are aluminum titanate, and blackportions are pores.

Reason for numerical limitations in the present invention are asfollows.

First, the reason why the amount of aluminum titanate in the crystallinephase is not less than 65% by volume and the average particle diameteris not less than 10 μ is that if a ceramic material does not satisfythese requirements, its Young's modulus cannot fully be lowered and thusthe object of the present invention cannot be attained.

The reason why Young's modulus is set at from 50 to 2,000 kgf/mm² isthat a ceramic material having Young's modulus of less than 50 kgf/mm²is difficult to produce, while that having Young's modulus of more than2,000 kgf/mm² tends to crack like conventional ceramic materials.Particularly, it is preferable that Young's modulus is controlled to bein a range from 50 to 200 kgf/mm².

The reason why compression strength is set at from 5 to 40 kgf/mm² isthat if it is less than 5 kgf/mm², the ceramic material may be deformedduring insert-casting and also has a handling problem, while if it isover 40 kg/mm² to the contrary, Young's modulus exceeds 2,000 kgf/mm².

The reason why the porosity is set at from 5 to 30% is that if it isless than 5%, a satisfactory heat insulating effect cannot be obtained,while if it is more than 30%, both strength and Young's modulus falloutside the respective numerical limitations in the present invention.

The reason why the ceramic material contains from 40 to 65% of Al₂ O₃and from 30 to 60% of TiO₂ in its composition is that if the compositionfalls outside these limitations, the amount of the crystals of aluminumtitanate does not reach 65%. On the other hand, the reason why at leastone of SiO₂, MgO, and Fe₂ O₃ is limited to not more than 10% in a totalamount is that if it is more than 10%, the rate of the aluminum titanatecrystals does not reach 65% and/or the crystal particle diameter is lessthan 10 μm.

The ceramic material according to the present invention has acoefficient of thermal expansion of not more than 2.0×10⁻⁶ /° C.(40°˜800° C.) and heat conductivity of 0.8 to 5.0×10⁻³ cal/cm.sec.° C.These physical properties are preferred with respect to port liners tobe brought into direct contact with exhaust gases at high temperatures.

Next, examples of the first aspect of the present invention will begiven below.

Raw materials were prepared to have a composition in any one of Run Nos.1˜25 in Table 1 given later, and cast in a mold to prepare test pieceseach having an elliptical section of 3 mm in thickness, 64 mm in a majoraxis and 36 mm in minor axis. Each of the test pieces thus obtained wasfired in firing conditions given in Table 1, and physical properties ofthe obtained ceramic materials were measured. Next, a casting sand wascharged into each of the test pieces, which was then insert-cast withaluminum. Thereby, metal-ceramic composite bodies each having analuminum thickness of 7 mm were produced. After the casting sand wasremoved, the test pieces were checked as to whether they cracked or not.Results are shown in the lowermost row.

                                      TABLE 1                                     __________________________________________________________________________                   Example                                                        Run No.        1   2   3  4  5     6     7  8  9  10 11 12 13                 __________________________________________________________________________    Chemical composition                                                                     Al.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                  43.3                                                                              49.2                                                                              54.2                                                                             56.1                                                                             58.0  62.9  55.5                                                                             51.6                                                                             54.2                                                                             51.6                                                                             55.5                                                                             51.6                                                                             54.3               (wt %)     TiO.sub.2                                                                         53.4                                                                              47.5                                                                              42.5                                                                             40.6                                                                             38.7  33.8  43.5                                                                             40.4                                                                             42.5                                                                             40.4                                                                             43.5                                                                             40.4                                                                             42.5                          Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                  3.3 3.3 3.3                                                                              3.3                                                                              3.3   3.3   1.0                                                                              8.0                                                                              -- -- -- -- 1.6                           MgO --  --  -- -- --    --    -- -- 3.3                                                                              8.0                                                                              -- -- --                            SiO.sub.2                                                                         --  --  -- -- --    --    -- -- -- -- 1.0                                                                              8.0                                                                              1.6                firing temperature (°C.)                                                              1,550                                                                             1,550                                                                             1,550                                                                            1,550                                                                            1,550 1,550 1,550                                                                            1,550                                                                            1,550                                                                            1,550                                                                            1,550                                                                            1,550                                                                            1,550              Young's modulus (kgf/mm.sup.2)                                                               1,210                                                                             520 100                                                                              180                                                                              1,470 1,860 60 340                                                                              190                                                                              1,380                                                                            70 590                                                                              100                compression strength                                                                         22  16  9  13 24    37    7  18 12 30 7  21 9                  (kgf/mm.sup.2)                                                                Porosity (%)   6.2 7.2 9.0                                                                              11.5                                                                             13.6  14.9  13.6                                                                             7.1                                                                              9.1                                                                              6.4                                                                              13.9                                                                             5.1                                                                              9.3                AT average crystalline                                                                       14  18  20 18 15    12    24 21 18 21 20 20 20                 diameter (μm)                                                              AT crystal amount (vol %)                                                                    84  88  94 94 90    85    96 88 91 85 97 89 93                 CTE (×10.sup.-6 /°C.)                                                           -0.9                                                                              -1.1                                                                              -1.2                                                                             -1.0                                                                             0.1   1.2   -1.0                                                                             -1.4                                                                             -1.3                                                                             -1.6                                                                             -1.1                                                                             -1.5                                                                             -1.3               Thermal conductivity                                                                         1.6 1.2 1.1                                                                              1.1                                                                              1.4   1.5   0.9                                                                              1.7                                                                              1.0                                                                              1.9                                                                              0.8                                                                              1.6                                                                              1.1                (×10.sup.-3 cal/cm · s · °C.)                  Crystalline phase other                                                                      rutile                                                                            rutile                                                                            -- -- corundum                                                                            corundum                                                                            -- -- -- -- -- -- --                 than AT                                                                       Cracks         no  no  no no no    no    no no no no no no no                 __________________________________________________________________________                   Example                Comparative Example                     Run No.        14 15 16   17 18 19 20 21   22   23   24   25                  __________________________________________________________________________    Chemical composition                                                                     Al.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                  54.3                                                                             54.2                                                                             57.7                                                                              61.6                                                                              54.2                                                                             54.2                                                                             54.3                                                                             38.7 67.7 62.4 54.2 54.3                (wt %)     TiO.sub.2                                                                         42.5                                                                             42.5                                                                             39.5                                                                              28.5                                                                              42.5                                                                             42.5                                                                             42.5                                                                             58.0 29.0 26.3 42.5 42.5                           Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                  -- 1.1                                                                              --  --  3.3                                                                              3.3                                                                              1.6                                                                              3.3  3.3  --   3.3  1.6                            MgO 1.6                                                                              1.1                                                                              --  --  -- -- -- --   --   --   --   --                             SiO.sub.2                                                                         1.6                                                                              1.1                                                                              2.8 9.9 -- -- 1.6                                                                              --   --   11.3 --   1.6                 firing temperature (°C.)                                                              1,550                                                                            1,550                                                                            1,600                                                                             1,600                                                                             1,500                                                                            1,600                                                                            1,600                                                                            1,550                                                                              1,550                                                                              1,600                                                                              1,450                                                                              1,450               Young's modulus (kgf/mm.sup.2)                                                               140                                                                              130                                                                              160 1,630                                                                             1,680                                                                            50 60 2,030                                                                              2,330                                                                              2,150                                                                              2,860                                                                              2,790               compression strength                                                                         11 11 13  38  16 5  6  36   45   46   8    9                   (kgf/mm.sup.2)                                                                Porosity (%)   9.4                                                                              9.0                                                                              8.6 12.1                                                                              33.9                                                                             5.1                                                                              6.4                                                                              6.2  17.0 13.2 41.3 3.8                 AT average crystalline                                                                       19 19 21  11  10 27 25 9    8    9    7    7                   diameter (μm)                                                              AT crystal amount (vol %)                                                                    90 93 89  65  67 95 94 76   74   56   52   50                  CTE (×10.sup.-6 /°C.)                                                           -1.4                                                                             -1.5                                                                             -0.9                                                                              0.2 0.7                                                                              -1.3                                                                             -1.3                                                                             -0.7 2.2  0.4  2.5  2.9                 Thermal conductivity                                                                         1.2                                                                              1.2                                                                              1.4 4.6 2.6                                                                              1.0                                                                              0.8                                                                              1.9  2.1  5.2  3.4  3.1                 (×10.sup.-3 cal/cm · s · °C.)                  Crystalline phase other                                                                      -- -- mullite                                                                           mullite                                                                           -- -- -- rutile                                                                             corun-                                                                             mullite                                                                            rutile                                                                             rutile              than AT                                    dum       corun-                                                                             corun-                                                                   dum  dum                 Cracks         no no no  no  no no no cracked                                                                            cracked                                                                            cracked                                                                            cracked                                                                            cracked             __________________________________________________________________________     Note: AT . . . aluminum titanate                                         

As is clear in the above-mentioned explanation, the first aspect of thepresent invention is to provide ceramic materials which are formed in ahollow tubular shape suitable to be insert-cast with a metal, havingexcellent heat resistance and thermal shock resistance, and free fromoccurrence of cracks due to deformation following compression stressdeveloped during insert-casting. Thus, the ceramic materials accordingto the present invention are favorably employed as port liners orexhaust manifold liners which are brought into direct contact withexhaust gases at high temperatures. As mentioned later, the ceramicmaterials according to the present invention are preferable when abuffer material such as ceramic fibers is wound around the ceramicmaterials to be insert-cast, because elasticity of the buffer materialis not lost. Thus, the present invention overcomes the problemspossessed by the prior art techniques, and greatly contributes toindustrial development.

Next, a second aspect of the present invention will be explained below.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional port liner 1 for a four valve typeengine comprises two ports 2, 2, and a single exhaust opening 3, and adepressed portion 4 formed at an intermediate portion between the ports2, 2. To the contrary, according to the present invention, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, a reinforcement 5 is filled in the depressed portion 4 tointegrally form an integral structure with a smoothly flattened surface.

As the reinforcement 5, a material of which coefficient of thermalexpansion and Young's modulus are near those of the port liner body 1'is selected. This selection is made to satisfy either one or both ofrequirements that difference in coefficient of thermal expansion at 800°C. between the port liner body and the reinforcement falls in a range of±0.1% and that difference in Young's modulus therebetween falls in arange of ±1,000 kgf/mm². For instance, when a material being mainlycomposed of aluminum titanate and having low Young's modulus of about 50to 2,000 kgf/mm² and a coefficient of thermal expansion of -0.1 to +0.1%is used as the material of the port liner body 1', a slurry or a bodywhich is mainly composed of aluminum titanate and has the sameproperties as those of the material of the port liner body is preferablyused as the reinforcement 5. The reinforcement 5 is plastically deformedtogether with the port liner body 1' during insert-casting to mitigatestress concentration upon the depressed portion 4 of the port liner body1'. To attain this, it is necessary that the port liner body 1' and thereinforcement 5 are completely joined together at the interfacetherebetween. For this purpose, it is preferable that the reinforcement5 is made of the same material as that of the port liner body 1'. Ifdifferences in coefficient of thermal expansion and/or Young's modulusbetween the materials of the reinforcement 5 and the port liner body 1'fall outside the respectively limited ranges of the present invention,the reinforcement may peel from the port liner body due to thermalstress or the former may not plastically be deformed together with thelatter.

In order to produce the ceramic port liner according to the presentinvention, a port liner body 1' having a given thickness is moldedthrough casting, and its depressed portion 4 in a green body state isburied with a slurry or body of a reinforcement 5 before firing. Then,the molding with the slurry or body is fired to obtain an integratedstructure. In the alternative, a fired port liner body 1' having a giventhickness is set in a mold as a core, and a slurry of the reinforcement5 is poured and cast outside thereof, followed by firing. Further, anintegrated port liner having locally different thicknesses is shapedthrough pressure pouring by using a core and a mold having no depressedportion, or a similarly integrated port liner is formed by injectionmolding.

In the following, examples of port liners according to the second aspectof the present invention will be explained.

EXAMPLE 2

Each of port liner bodies having the physical properties shown in anyone of Run Nos. 1-9 was obtained by slip cast molding a ceramic bodythrough pouring, and a depressed portion of the obtained molding in agreen state was buried with a paste of a reinforcement having the sameproperties as those of the ceramic body as in Run No. 1, followed bydrying and then firing in a temperature range from 1,500° to 1,600° C.Then, after casting sand was charged inside each of the port linerbodies, the entire outer periphery was insert-cast with aluminum in athickness of 7 mm. After the casting sand was removed, the molding waschecked for cracks. As a result, it was revealed that run Nos. 1-5having differences in Young's modulus and coefficient of thermalexpansion falling inside the ranges respectively defined in the presentinvention were free from cracking, while run Nos. 6-9 all cracked.

EXAMPLE 3

In Example 3, port liner Run Nos. 1-9 were prepared and tested in thesame manner as in Example 1 except that the same reinforcement as in RunNo. 6 of Example 2 was used. While Run Nos. 1-4 cracked, Run Nos. 5-9falling inside the scope of the present invention were free fromcracking.

EXAMPLE 4

Each of port liners of Run Nos. 2, 4, 6, and 7 in Example 2 was setinside a mold as a core, and a slurry of aluminum titanate-mullite basedreinforcement having Young's modulus of 3,200 kgf/mm² and a coefficientof thermal expansion at 800° C. being 0.02% was poured between the moldand the port liner body. After drying and firing, thus obtained portliners were insert-cast with aluminum in the same manner as in Example2. As a result, it was revealed that Run No. 2 cracked, while Run Nos.4, 5 and 7 falling inside the scope of the present invention were freefrom cracking.

                                      TABLE 2                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Port liner bodies                                                             No.                1   2   3   4   5   6  7  8  9                             __________________________________________________________________________    Young's modulus (kgf/mm.sup.2)                                                                   60  100 190 520 1,210                                                                             1,860                                                                            1,480                                                                            1,340                                                                            1,950                         CTE (×10.sup.-6 /°C.)                                                               -0.08                                                                             -0.09                                                                             -0.10                                                                             -0.08                                                                             -0.07                                                                             0.09                                                                             0.05                                                                             0.04                                                                             0.15                          compression strength (kgf/mm.sup.2)                                                              7   9   12  16  22  37 16 20 38                            Porosity (%)       14  9   9   7   6   15 34 21 10                            AT crystal amount (%)                                                                            96  94  91  88  84  85 67 78 68                            AT average crystalline diameter (μm)                                                          24  20  18  18  14  12 10 13 12                            __________________________________________________________________________

As is clear from the aforegoing explanation, according to the secondaspect of the present invention, stress concentrations occurring uponthe depressed portion of the outer peripheral surface of the port linerbody are prevented by designing the port liner as an integral structurein which the depressed portion is buried with the reinforcement havingsmall differences in Young's modulus and coefficient of thermalexpansion between them and integrally elastically deforming the entireport liner during insert-casting. Thus, the present invention hasvarious merits in that the port liner will not crack due to compressionstresses during insert-casting, and also is free from peeling-off duringuse as seen in conventional port liners around which ceramic fibers arewound, and can easily be insert-cast. Therefore, since the presentinvention provides ceramic port liners which obviate the problemspossessed by the prior art techniques, it contributes to the industrialdevelopment to an extremely large extent.

Next, a third aspect of the present invention will be explained in moredetail with respect to specific examples as follows.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1' denotes a port liner body for use in afour valve type engine. The port liner body comprises two ports 2, 2 anda single exhaust opening 3. The port liner body 1' in this embodiment ismade of a ceramic material of low Young's modulus which is mainlycomposed of aluminum titanate. More specifically, the ceramic materialcontains not less than 65% by volume of aluminum titanate as acrystalline phase, the average particle diameter of crystals thereof isnot less than 10 μm, and Young's modulus, compression strength, andporosity are from 50 to 2,000 kgf/mm², 5 to 40 kgf/mm², and 5 to 35%,respectively.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since workedportions are provided at the outer peripheral surface of the port linerbody 1' to form an uneven surface upon a joining face of the ceramicport liner to the insert-casting metal. In this embodiment, the outerperipheral worked portion 6 is a groove 6a parallel with a flowdirection of a gas passing through the port liner. Although dependingupon the thickness of the port liner body, the width and depth of thegroove are around 1 to 3 mm and around 0.5 to 3 mm, respectively. Inorder to prevent stress concentrations, edge portions of the grooves arepreferably slightly curved. Some effect may be obtained by providingsuch grooves 6a at the depressed portion only where the port liner islikely to peel from the insert-casting metal. However, it is preferablethat as in this embodiment, the grooves are formed over the entire outerperipheral surface of the port liner. Further, the grooves 6a may beformed in an oblique net-like fashion.

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the third aspect of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, projections 6a are formed at the outerperipheral surface of the port liner body 1' as outer peripheralsurface-worked portions 6. The projections 6b have a prismatic shapehaving a width of 1 to 3 mm, and a height of 0.5 to 5 mm. With respectto the location and shape of the projections, they may be varied as inthe first embodiment. If the upper portion of the projection 6b isenlarged, the insert casting metal and the port liner body 1' are morefirmly joined together.

The groove 6a or the projection 6b may be formed through a transferringtechnique by preliminarily forming corresponding projections or grooveson an inner surface of a mold used for molding port liner bodies throughpouring.

Besides the above-mentioned grooves and projections, it is effectivethat the outer peripheral surface of the port liner is roughened. Forinstance, a roughness of 30 to 200 μm may be transferred upon the outerperipheral surface of the port liner by giving uneveness at roughnessfrom about 30 to 200 μm on the inner surface of the mold. Suchunevenness may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the portliner by directly working it.

Furthermore, a granular material having the same properties as that ofthe port liner body 1' may be adhered onto the outer peripheral surfacethereof as the outer peripheral surface-worked portions. Alternatively,numerous closed cells may be formed in the surface portion of the portliner body 1'.

In any of the above-mentioned techniques, uneven portions are formed onthe joining surface of the port liner body to the insert-casting metalto enhance the joining force between the insert-casting metal and theport liner body.

As is the same with conventional ceramic port liners of this type, thethus constituted port liners according to the present invention are usedin the state that they are insert-cast with a metal such as aluminum inthe production of cylinder heads to improve heat insulation of exhaustports. However, since the worked portions 6 are provided in the outerperipheral surface of the ceramic port liner according to the presentinvention to offer uneven portions to the joining face of the outerperipheral surface of the port liner body to the insert-casting metal,the insert-casting metal and the port liner body 1' are more firmlyjoined due to an anchoring effect of the outer peripheral surface-workedportion to prevent peeling off between them even during solidificationof the insert-casting metal. Thus, as compared with the conventionalceramic port liners having suffered partial peeling-off from theinsert-casting metal, stress concentration during the solidification isreduced to one half or less of the former so that cracking due to stressconcentration can effectively be prevented. Moreover, different fromconventional ceramic port liners around which buffer ceramic fibers areoutwardly wound, the ceramic port liners according to the presentinvention have the merits in that the port liners are free from peelingoff during use and facilitate insert-casting.

As is clear from the aforegoing explanation, the ceramic port linersaccording to the present invention have the advantages in that they canof course fully exhibit inherent heat insulating effect, greatly reduceoccurrence percentage of breakage due to compression force duringinsert-casting, are free from peeling-off during use, and facilitateinsert-casting. Thus, since the present invention provides ceramic portliners which solve the problems possessed by the prior art techniques,the invention has an extremely great practical value.

Next, a fourth aspect of the present invention will be explained in moredetail with reference to specific examples as follows.

In FIG. 8, a port liner body 1 for a four valve type engine comprisestwo ports 2, 2 and a single exhaust opening 3. The port liner body 1' inthis embodiment is made of a ceramic material which mainly consists ofaluminum titanate and has low Young's modulus. More specifically, theceramic material contains not less than 65% by volume of aluminumtitanate as a crystalline phase, the average particle diameter ofcrystals thereof is not less than 10 μm, and Young's modulus,compression strength, and porosity are from 50 to 2,000 kgf/mm², from 5to 40 kgf/mm², and from 5 to 35%, respectively.

A depressed portion 4 is formed at the outer peripheral portion of theport liner body 1' between two ports 2, 2. In this embodiment, astress-releasing slit 7 is formed in a wall of the port liner body 1'facing the depressed portion 4. As shown in FIG. 8, the slit 7 of thisembodiment is formed from an upper end face of the exhaust opening 3 tothe lower portion of the depressed portion along a gas-flowing directionon a center line of the port liner body 1'.

FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 show other embodiments of the port liners accordingto the present invention. As shown in the second embodiment of FIG. 9, aslit 7 may be formed from a lower end face of an exhaust opening to aupper portion of a depressed portion 4. Alternatively, as shown in FIG.10, slits 7 may be formed extending only central portions of upper andlower walls of the port liner body facing a depressed portion 4.Moreover, as shown in the fourth embodiment of FIG. 11, slits 7 may beformed in right and left side walls of a port liner body 1'.

The width of the slits may be in a range from about 0.5 to 3 mm. It ispreferable that ceramic fibers or the like having low Young's modulusare buried inside the slits 7. The ceramic fibers are buried to preventa molten metal from entering the port liner. Thus, no limitation isposed upon the material, shape, burying way, etc. of the ceramic fibers.As is the same with conventional port liners of this type, the thusconstituted port liners are insert cast with a metal such as aluminum inthe production of cylinder heads, and are used to improve heatinsulation of inner faces of exhaust ports in the state. However, sincea stress-releasing slit 7 is formed in the outer peripheral surface wallof the ceramic port liner according to the present invention, even whena great compression stress is exerted upon the port liner body 1' due toshrinkage of a molten metal through solidification duringinsert-casting, the port liner body 1' itself is deflected due to thisslit to prevent stress concentration. Thus, the port liner can beprevented from cracking due to stress concentration. In particular, whena material which is mainly composed of aluminum titanate and has lowYoung's modulus is used as the port liners as in the case of the aboveembodiments, no cracks were observed even when the port liner wasinsert-cast with aluminum in a thickness of 5 cm. In addition, differentfrom conventional ceramic port liners around which ceramic fibers areoutwardly wound, the ceramic port liners according to the presentinvention are free from peeling-off during use, and facilitateinsert-casting.

As is clear from the foregoing explanation, the port liners according tothe fourth aspect of the present invention can of course can exhibitinherent heat insulating effect, completely prevent breakage due tocompression stress during insert-casting, are free from peeling-offduring use, and facilitate insert-casting. Thus, since the presentinvention provides ceramic port liners which solve the problemspossessed by the prior art techniques, the invention has a practicallygreat value.

Finally, the fifth aspect of the present invention will be explainedwith reference to a specific embodiment.

FIG. 12 shows a port liner for a four valve type engine as an embodimentof the fifth aspect of the present invention. The port liner comprises aport liner body 1' with two ports 2, 2 and a single exhaust opening 3.The port liner body 1' of this embodiment is made of a ceramic materialcontaining aluminum titanate as a main ingredient and having low Young'smodulus. More specifically, the ceramic material contains not less than65% of aluminum titanate as a crystalline phase, the average particlediameter of crystals thereof is not less than 10 μm, and the ceramicmaterial has Young's modulus of 50 to 2,000 kgf/mm², compressionstrength of 5 to 40 kgf/mm², and porosity of 5 to 35%.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the outerperipheral surface of the port liner body 1' is covered with a ceramicsheet 8 which irreversibly expands by heating. As the ceramic sheet 8exhibiting such a behavior, a mixture of a thermally expandable materialsuch as vermiculite stone or vermiculite and a fine amount of an organicbinder. For instance, a product commercially available under a trademark"Interam mat" from 3M may be used. Such a ceramic sheet having athickness of 3 mm is expanded to a thickness of 5.5 mm by heating it at700°. After that, even when the ceramic sheet is cooled down to 200° C.,it maintains the thickness of not less than 4.5 mm. Further, the ceramicsheet exhibits an irreversible behavior. That is, even when it issubjected to repeated cycles between temperature rising up to 700° C.and cooling down to 200° C., the thickness does not substantiallychange, and is stabilized in a range from 4.5 to 5.0 mm. In theillustrated embodiment, the ceramic sheet is applied onto the entireouter peripheral surface of the port liner body 1'. However, such aceramic sheet may be applied to only a portion of the port liner body,such as a depressed portion at an intermediate portion between two ports2, 2 which particularly has weak strength because the outer peripheralsurface is depressed.

When the ceramic port liner thus constituted according to the fifthaspect of the present invention is insert-cast with a molten metal suchas aluminum in the production of a cylinder head, the ceramic sheet 8applied around the outer peripheral surface of the port liner body 1' isexpanded with heat possessed by the molten metal (about 700° C. in thecase of aluminum), and firmly holds the port liner body 1' by itsreaction force. As a result, a buffer layer is formed around the outerperipheral surface of the insert-cast port liner body 1' throughexpansion of the ceramic sheet, which prevents the port liner body 1'from being broken due to shrinkage force generated when the metalsolidifies. As mentioned above, since the ceramic sheet 8 also firmlyholds the port liner body 1', the phenomenon that the port liner body 1'locally peels from the insert-casting metal to concentrate tensilestress thereon can be prevented. The stress concentration is likely tooccur particularly at the depressed portion of the outer peripheralsurface of the port liner body 1', and is a major factor to causecracking. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, sincethe port liner body 1' is firmly held by a holding force as reaction inthe expansion of the ceramic sheet, the port liner body 1' is preventedfrom cracking due to this stress concentration. According to the presentinvention, the buffer layer formed by irreversible expansion of theceramic sheet 8 is extremely stable, it will not lose its elasticity dueto high temperatures and vibrations of an engine under operation. Thus,the port liner body 1' will not peel off. Further, according to thepresent invention, since a layer having excellent thermal insulation isformed around the outer peripheral surface of the port liner body 1',temperature drop of exhaust gases can be effectively prevented.

As is clear from the foregoing explanation, the fifth aspect of thepresent invention has many merits that it can of course fully exhibitheat insulating effects of port liner themselves, can completely preventbreakage due to compression stress during insert-casting, is free frompeeling-off during use, and facilitates insert-casting. Thus, since thepresent invention provides ceramic port liners which solve the problemspossessed by the prior art techniques, the invention has a greatpractical value.

What is claimed is:
 1. A ceramic port liner, comprising:a port linerbody made of ceramic material for insert casting, said ceramic materialhaving high heat resistance and thermal shock resistance, and being freefrom cracking due to compression stresses during insert casting, saidport liner body having an exhaust opening and at least two ports spacedapart from each other, two of said at least two ports definingtherebetween a depressed portion; and reinforcement material filled insaid depressed portion, wherein said ceramic port liner has at least oneof:(1) a difference in thermal expansion coefficients between said portliner body and said reinforcement material at 800° C. in a range of±0.1%; and (2) a difference in Young's moduli between said port linerbody and said reinforcement material in a range of ±1,000 kgf/mm². 2.The ceramic port liner of claim 1, wherein said ceramic material is analuminum titanate-based ceramic material.
 3. The ceramic port liner ofclaim 1, wherein said reinforcement material is made of said ceramicmaterial.
 4. The ceramic port liner of claim 1, wherein said depressedportion is substantially V-shaped.
 5. The ceramic port liner of claim 1,wherein said reinforcement material substantially completely fills saiddepressed portion.
 6. A ceramic port liner, comprising:a port liner bodymade of a ceramic material for insert casting, said ceramic materialhaving high heat resistance and thermal shock resistance, and being freefrom cracking due to compression stresses during insert casting, saidport liner body having an exhaust opening defined by an upper wall, alower wall, and first and second side walls, and at least two portsspaced apart from each other, two of said at least two ports definingtherebetween a depressed portion; and a slit for accommodating stressapplied to said port liner body during insert casting, said slitextending completely through and along at least one of said upper wall,said lower wall, and said first and second side walls of said port linerbody.
 7. The ceramic port liner of claim 6, further comprising ceramicfibers disposed within said slit.
 8. The ceramic port liner of claim 6,wherein said slit extends into said depressed portion.
 9. The ceramicport liner of claim 6, wherein said ceramic material is an aluminumtitanate-based ceramic material.
 10. A ceramic port liner for insertcasting with molten metal, comprising:a port liner body made of aceramic material for insert casting, said ceramic material having highheat resistance and thermal shock resistance, and being free fromcracking due to compression stresses during insert casting, said portliner body having an exhaust opening and at least one port; andirreversibly expandable means which irreversibly expands from a firstthickness to a second thickness larger than said first thickness fromheat from said molten metal during insert casting of said ceramic portliner wherein said irreversibly expandable means substantially maintainssaid second thickness after said ceramic port liner and molten metalcools after insert casting, said irreversibly expandable meanscomprising a ceramic sheet covering said port liner body, whereby stressconcentrations on and cracking of said port liner body are preventedduring said insert casting.
 11. The ceramic port liner of claim 10,wherein said ceramic sheet comprises vermiculite, ceramic fibers andorganic binder.